Tariq Aziz, Artist par Excellence, Passes Away in Lahore
By Dr A. Khan
Chicago, IL
Tariq Aziz, a unique icon of Pakistan’s Television, Radio and Film, died in Lahore. He woke up on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 and after taking breakfast complained of some discomfort. He asked his driver to take him to a hospital. On his way to the hospital in the company of his wife he breathed his last. Thus, an era of clean and intellectual entertainment in Pakistan came to an end.
Tariq Aziz was born in Jalandhar, British India, on April 28, 1936. In 1947, after the creation of Pakistan, his family moved to Montgomery (Sahiwal). He received his early education in Jalandhar and Montgomery. In the early 1960s, he moved to Lahore and started his career with Radio Pakistan, and later moved to Pakistan Television (PTV). He was part of the inaugural team of PTV announcers on the first day of television transmission in Pakistan on Thursday, November 26, 1964.
Daakh’tee Aank’hooN aur Soon’tay Ka’nooN koo Tariq Aziz ka Salam Pohan’chay (Greetings from Tariq Aziz to all seeing eyes and hearing ears) was Tariq Aziz’s signature opening remark of his popular Television program Neelam Ghar (Tariq Aziz show/Buzm-e-Traiq Aziz) launched in 1974. He was a walking encyclopedia of Urdu poetry; his extempore recollection and recitation of Urdu poetry – classic to modern – was the unique feature of Neelam Ghar that ruled the airwaves for 40 years.
He performed in hundreds of Radio and Television programs, and also acted in 42 films, which included 33 Urdu, and 9 Punjabi feature films. His prominent works include: Insaniyat (1967), Katari (1968), Salgirah (1969), Qasam Uss Waqt Ki (1969), and Har Gaya Insan (1975). For his versatile services rendered to the media industry, he was bestowed the prestigious Pride of Performance Award by the government of Pakistan in 1992.
Tariq Aziz was a multi-faceted person; an artist, a poet, a socialist, and a philanthropist. He tried many times to take part in politics, but every time he was bitten badly by the Wadera-cum-elite politicians [PPP/PML(N)/PML(Q]. He was also elected as a member of national assembly (1997-99).
Tariq Aziz loved books; his home is full of books stacked on the walls and giving it the appearance of a library. He was also an active philanthropist helping the poor in his own quite way without any fanfare or show-off. Once he observed that many times people come with their issues and problems, but many times he finds himself helpless to help them, and recited the following sher:
Bay’sahara Koi Mil’tah hay too Dukh Ho’tah Hai
maiN Bhee Kaya hooN kay ke’see Kaam Na’heeN Aa’saktah
Meeting someone helpless agonizes me much
I wonder what I am, I could not be of any help to anyone
Tariq Aziz was also a gifted poet and writer; he authored two books - Hamzad Da Dukh (Punjabi), a collection of poetry, and Iqbal Shanasi (Urdu), reflections on the poetry of Allama Iqbal.
Tariq Aziz, was a simple and humble person, he married a lady from Peshawar, and had a son who died young. He is survived by his wife. According to his will, he has endowed all of his property and belongings to the welfare of Pakistan, thus, remaining in death faithful to his concluding slogan of every Neelam Ghar program: Pakistan Zindabad!
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